Hospice’s plea to party candidates

The boss of vital charity is calling on parliamentary candidates of all parties to show their support for hospice care on the Fylde coast.

Trinity Hospice and Brian House Children’s Hospice provide care for thousands of people from Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre with terminal and life-limiting illnesses every year.

But with only a small proportion of annual funding coming from the state, Trinity and Brian House rely on the generosity of the local community through donations and volunteers in order to provide their vital services.

Every year Trinity must raise £5m through voluntary donations to keep its doors open, and its services free of charge.

Now its chief executive David Houston wants those taking part in next week’s General Election to give their support.

Mr Houston said: “At Trinity we provide physical, emotional, spiritual and social care and support – working not just here in the hospice but also in people’s homes both day and night, and across the wider community.

“With an ageing population the demand for adult hospice care is set to increase. At Brian House we also see a year-on-year increase in demand from local families.

“Our hospices operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year and need more secure and sustained investment in order to provide the best possible care for everyone approaching the end of life.

“We are calling on whoever wins at next week’s general election to become champions for hospice care and to help us ensure hospice care is a priority in the community.”